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August 2022
 
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Dear First name / Friend,

How are you? How is it already August? I think mentally I'm still back in mid-July. That might be because just a week ago I wrapped up my third Pegasus Mentorship retreat! I'll share a little more about that later in the newsletter. 
 
But first, isn't my herd of mares beautiful! A big thanks for my bestie Jessica Robinson for this perfect photo. ❤️
 
Now let's get into the meat of the newsletter because I think it's a question on everyone's minds right now…
 

Is Instagram Dead?

 
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Unless you live under a rock, you probably know that Instagram has been announcing and making significant changes to their app to make it less like the Instagram we know and love and more like TikTok. 🤦🏻‍♀️
 
The main change is that Instagram is favoring video over still photos. And not just a little bit, but the organic reach of still images has tanked and photographers, including me, are NOT happy about it. 🤬
 
While videography is a service I offer clients (and I offer a course for photographers to learn video), I am a photographer first. I know I could put them into a slideshow-type reel, but that takes a lot of time to do, and even then, there seems to be no rhyme or reason why some reels do well, and some do not. 🤷🏻‍♀️
 
So I'm going to go ahead and declare Instagram dead for people who loved it for sharing photos. ☠️
 
The worst thing about social media as a marketing platform is that it's "rented media." You don't own your account and have no control over what happens to the platform. Marketing experts have been warning us for years not to put all our eggs in rented media baskets because of this. Instead, using owned media is a much better investment of your time and marketing efforts. 
 
I want to share three things we can do to market our services and share our work that doesn't include social media, plus one big takeaway from what Instagram is doing that you can apply to your business.
  1. Start or Resume Your Email Newsletter - You are reading this email because you subscribed to my list, which I own! There is no algorithm deciding whether or not you see my email. If you have not started an email list yet, NOW IS THE TIME! If you have a list but never email them, it's time to start.
  2. Update Your Website - When was the last time you updated your website? Do you have a good search engine ranking? Do you have a blog on your site that keeps the content fresh? In the age of social media, websites have slowly become secondary or non-existent for some photographers. Still, with the changes to social media, I think they are more important than ever!
  3. Get Out There and Network - Don't be shy! Go to local equestrian events and meet potential clients in person. People do business with those they know, like, and trust, and these three things are accomplished far better in person than on social media.
One lesson we can learn from this situation as business owners is not to be a copy of another business. The biggest complaint I hear is, "Why does Instagram have to be TikTok? Why not just stay Instagram?" The answer, in my opinion, is greed, but the bottom line is when you try to emulate the success of others, you lose your identity in the process. Always be working to find ways to offer a unique service or product to your clients!
 

What I'm Reading and Listening To…

 
What I'm Reading
In July, I started books I couldn't fully get into, so I didn't finish any of them (which I recently learned is okay!) I just started one that after reading two pages of the Kindle sample, I wanted to start highlighting everything, so you'll have to wait until September to see if I loved it or not!
 
But I do read blogs regularly using the Feedly app and website, so here are some of my favorites:
  • Lightroom Killer Tips - As its name indicates, this blog by photography education legend Scott Kelby shares excellent tips for both versions of Lightroom.
  • DIY Photography - Don't let the name fool you into thinking this blog is just for amateurs; it features a steady stream of photography news I find helpful and entertaining!
  • Shawnblanc.net - Shawn is an old friend of mine, and his writing encourages and inspires me to live a focused and intentional life.
  • Cal Newport - if you've read my newsletter for a while, you know I like to geek out on productivity and focus, and Cal is my favorite author on this topic. His blog has great posts about these topics.
 
What I'm Listening To

Just 5 Days Left to Save on my new Workflow Course!

 
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Are you wasting time and losing money with a slow, inefficient photography workflow? 
 
Then you need my new course "Rapid Workflow for Photographers." It will help you save time, make more money, and get your life back!⁠
 
⁠Having an efficient, accurate workflow is critical to running a successful business. Without one, you risk losing images, upsetting clients, and losing the joy of being a photographer because you are bogged down by your workflow. ⁠⁠
 
In this course, I will teach you my Rapid Workflow System. I’ll walk you through each step of my workflow so you can implement all or part of it right away. I included a workbook you can print out with key points from the course and screenshots so you can study my settings. ⁠⁠
 
I also include a Bonus Sneak peek workflow that makes it quick and easy to share images right after a session. ⁠
 
So if you’re ready to speed up your workflow, grow your business, and enrich your life, then purchase the course and let’s get started!⁠ 
 
Are you also interested in my Video for Photographers Course? Bundle it with my Workflow course and save $58!
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Pegasus Retreat 2022

 
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This was my third year doing the Pegasus Mentorship, a 6-month advanced mentorship experience for equestrian photographers wanting to grow their business and learn high-level photography skills. We meet online as a group and in 1:1 mentor sessions between April and September with an in-person retreat mid-summer.
 
This year, we had a LOT of fun and did a whopping 7 photo shoots in just 4 days including Gypsy Vanners at liberty, a full studio setup, eventing, portraits, and our grand finale - a family riding their horses through a wheat field at sunset! 
 
If you are interested in being part of the mentorship in 2023, visit my Pegasus Mentorship page to learn more and join the waiting list. 
 
Jennifer Norman shared this about her experience at the retreat… "Being at the retreat not only taught me even more photo and editing skills, but the comradery and support that I received from my mentor and fellow classmates is something I will cherish!” Here is one of her favorite images from our time together…
 
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I sincerely hope you are enjoying the Pegasus Journal. If you know of another photographer you think might benefit from these emails, would you consider sharing it email with them? Thank you!

 

And, as always, if there's anything I can do to help you grow as a photographer, please reach out by hitting reply to this email. 😊

 

Until next time…

 

Warmly,

Shelley

 

 

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